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what codec to use to bring mp4’s into FCP w/out having to render
Hello,
Basically, I have a ton of mp4s, youtube segments, that i want to get into my final cut project without having to render all the files when i bring them in, but also getting them into a format that FCP can read w/ out having to render is only possible by creating huge files no matter what the codec used to convert them is. For example; using Compressor, I convert my mp4 clip into any DV format and the exported file is upwards of 20 times as big as the original mp4.
My sequence settings are DVCPro HD 720p24 fps
Computer: Dual 2.5 PowerPC G5 2 gb ddr sdram.Hope i’ve explained this legibly, thanks for any help!
dan -
3 Replies
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Sorry, but mp4’s are a delivery codec: massively compressed so they can be transmitted with a lower bandwidth. They also are very processor intensive – lots of number crunching to turn that data back into viable video.
Any real-time editing codec is going to be MUCH larger than an mp4. DV is pretty much the smallest codec that really gets used anymore. Luckily hard drives are really inexpensive these days.
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Hi Dan,
You can use Streamclip to convert the mp4s into any of the fcp codes you want. If you don’t have any other media in your timelines, you might as well use the DV codec. But if your timeline has clips at DVCProHD then convert the MP4s to this codec using MPEG Streamclip. You can do a search to find a download of it. Its free.
Andrea Stewart
Producer/Editor/Director – Owner
Germane Creative LLC -
Thanks for the replies. I have streamclip, and that takes me back to my original problem of converting the mp4s to anything creates huge files, a 10mb mp4 becomes 200mbs when converted to anything. Or just bringing it into FCP as is, creates huge render files. I guess i’m looking for advice on how to work with massive amount of mp4 broll footage w/out creating huge needless render files/converted files. In essence, a preview mechanism in final cut or something similar.
Thanks again for all the help and advice,
dan
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